Today’s consumer has become much more discerning about what they put into their body. And when people go to buy a beverage, they’re not just thinking about whether it’s refreshing or tastes good, they’re wondering about things like sugar content, hydration, and even the impact it will have on their mood.
Maria Stipp is the CEO of Suja Life, a beverage company with a slate of offerings to satisfy the needs of the modern health-conscious consumer.
Prior to joining the company, Maria served as CEO of Sapporo Stone Brewing, and before that, she was the CEO of Lagunitas Brewing Company. Early in her career, Maria spent over a decade in the software and gaming industry, including serving as an EVP of Owned Properties at Activision, overseeing some of the company's most iconic franchises, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Guitar Hero.
Today, Maria joins us to talk about her journey from the world of gaming into the beverage industry, how vertical integration gives Suja an edge in the marketplace, and how they strive to meet evolving consumer needs while staying true to their brand.
Highlights:
- From Gaming to Brewing to Better-For-You (2:25)
- Why Maria Said Yes to Suja (3:35)
- Born in a Kitchen, Delivered by Skateboard (4:30)
- What Sets Suja Apart (5:20)
- The Farm-to-Bottle Advantage (6:20)
- Why Going Public Made Sense (8:10)
- Three Brands, One Platform (13:35)
- Competing Against Pepsi and Coke (17:40)
- What Investors Miss About the Story (20:15)
- What's Next for Suja (21:50)
Links:
Feedback:
If you have questions about the show, or have a topic in mind you'd like discussed in future episodes, email our producer,
joe@lowerstreet.co
What is Welcome to the Arena from ICR – Conversations with Today's Innovators & Business Leaders?
In the increasingly crowded and competitive corporate and financial ecosystem, it’s harder than ever for companies to break through the clutter and be heard. The media, investors, agenda-driven influencers, even customers and competitors, are defining your business story on their terms. Therefore, it is imperative that companies take control and proactively drive the conversation with stakeholders in an effort to build & maintain equity value.
In Welcome to the Arena from ICR, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of ICR, Tom Ryan, interviews key business and financial players who influence the fate of public or aspiring public companies in the capital markets. As a former Wall Street Journal ranked sell-side equity analyst and the founder of one of the largest strategic communications firms in the world, Tom understands what it takes to navigate this complex environment.
This is a forum for CEOs, CFOs, institutional investors, sell-side analysts, financial journalists, private equity professionals and other financial community participants to share their stories and give advice in an open and candid conversation.
For more information, visit http://www.icrinc.com